Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Regulate E-cigarettes

The following information is from the Contra Costa Tobacco Prevention Coalition:

Unincorporated Contra Costa County is the first jurisdiction in Contra Costa to adopt community-wide regulations banning the use of electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, in public places. Retailers of e-cigarettes will now also be required to purchase a tobacco retailer license.
On Tuesday, March 19th, the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes at all places where smoking is prohibited and require retailers of electronic cigarette retailers to purchase a tobacco retailer license.

E-cigarettes are battery-operated products designed to deliver nicotine, flavor and other chemicals. They often resemble the “look” of a cigarette, including a battery-lit glow at the end of the device. They turn nicotine, which is highly addictive, and other chemicals into a vapor that is inhaled by the user. A state law prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes to minors but the products are otherwise unregulated.

Mary Jaccodine, member of the Tobacco Prevention Coalition, explained, “E-cigarettes must be regulated because of their potential to change social norms around smoking and because they are delivery devices for nicotine, one of the most addictive drugs on earth. It has taken decades, but we are finally at a point where smoking is not considered glamorous. If e-cigarettes become part of our social landscape, we are reintroducing the notion that “smoking” is harmless and acceptable.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has very little information about the safety and efficacy of these products but preliminary laboratory analysis found they contained carcinogens and toxic chemicals to which users and bystanders could potentially be exposed. The FDA is also concerned that e-cigarettes can increase nicotine addiction among young people and may lead young people to try other tobacco products, including conventional cigarettes, which are known to cause disease and lead to premature death.

Supervisor Federal Glover indicated his support for the proposed regulations saying, “There is a perception that if we don’t do anything about this, it’s okay to smoke. This change is consistent with the stand that this board has taken on tobacco products in the past.”

really your surprised this is a dem state and they tell you when to get up and when to sit down when to wizz and so on and now you say uuuummm lol this state is a huge berkley …people with nothing to do but make more and more laws to make themselves feel better ..and well keep you in the corral …cccounty just another name for dictatorship ….but not 1 cares …why …nobody cares ….

Stupidest thing I’ve ever read.. If you’re going to treat same as a smoke then why try and quit with an alternative. Where is the science in 2nd hand vapor? Unbelievably idiotic. Just killed the best tool to quitting because of THEORY? So now they go back to real smokes.. Bravo Gov’t!

Should we also ban chewing tobacco in no smoking areas? Homeless people that smell offend me and make me sick, should we ban them? That gassy guy on bart, farts stink, ban ‘em! . YOU WILL NEVER TAKE MY GUNS, MY CIGARETS, OR MY ABILITY TO THINK FOR MY SELF. I smoke in downtown Concord every time I go back there just to piss off the lib-tards.

@ mike mac
Where is the federal gov’t mentioned in this? Reading is fundamental.

Tobacco companies have gone after local municipalities for not treating these like all other tobacco products and the tobacco companies have been all over the e-cig manufacturers with petty lawsuits. So, there is a lot more here than just “big government”. Local municipalities risk being sued if they treat these product different than regular cigarettes. They have had the support of REPUBLICAN legislators in their efforts as they overwhelmingly favor them with campaign donations..

PLEASE! Alcohol is legal and has caused more crimes, deaths, illnesses and addicts than smokers affecting non-smokers! An addictive personality will find some crutch be it smoking, drugs, alcohol, obsessive anything! It’s not the product but the personality! The second hand smoke bit is such a crock too! They don’t know what causes cancer. It’s coincidental that smoking was prevalent in earlier years so that’s how the tobacco industries got nailed! Smoking laws are so out of control it’s scary how much power governments have on our personal lives.

E-cigs were created so the public wouldn’t have to smell and inhale 2nd hand smoke. E-cigs are made with nicotine and “other chemicals”, also known as H2O. It is a mixture of water and nicotine vaporized and inhaled. No odor, vapor vanishes almost instantly, and no risk of second hand smoke, because unlike cigarette smoke which lingers, E-cig vapor falls under the weight of gravity.

Cigarettes have been all but banned in California. Some cities, you can’t even smoke outside in public. E-cigs are a way to smoke wherever and not bother anyone. This is as good as me saying I want stupid people off public streets because they drop everyone else’s I.Q. around them. We wouldn’t have too many people left among us.

I have used these on planes and in movie theaters all over the world. Not one complaint..

I am not a smoker and I think this is just stupid. But, yeah, you idiots that elected these the supervisors that voted for the new rules, get what you deserve. If you don’t like the new ruling then vote the b*****s out the next election you can. AND DON’T FORGET.

Shuley must be right…at the risk of a lawsuit, municipalities MUST limit freedoms. Federal Glover or federal case…come on dude, you just want to be a goody two shoes and “protect” the world; you know better than the rest of us. This country is doomed…..

I smoked for 7 years. The e-cig was the only thing that helped me quit. I am currently still using my e-cig with no nicotine in the filter just for the satisfaction of puffing smoke after a long day.
Where are the studies that say its harmful to others? Because I’ve looked it up…. NOT ONE THING MENTIONED.
It’s only a matter of time till the government is telling me what color underwear I can wear due to “health risks”. Haha bunch of jokesters.

So stupid! I used to smoke and I understand putting limitations om where a real cigarette can be smoked but an e-cig. Really!? And Glover thinks it’s not ok to smoke?! Its perfectly fine to smoke. I dont care if someone smokes, it’s their life and they can make their own decisions. Thats like say to someone its not ok to eat junk food.

This is ridiculous! I have been smoking an e-Cigarette now for two years. This product that has three chemicals in it (propylene glycol, vegetable glycol, nicotine, and flavoring) compared to the 5000 chemicals in cigarettes have helped me quit completely. Big tobacco has Been trying to get rid of these products for quite a while now because of people like me, they lost money. Its all politics, why do you think electric cars and vehicles with alternative fuels have not caught on? Big oil, just like big tobacco has political if not government backing. Look up a you tube video on the doctors, Dr oz is smoking one on set in front of the audience. Give me proof that these really do harm and then make laws. Innocent until proven guilty right? Show me and I will believe it.

Hipocrites! All of you! You cannot have it both ways! Oh let’s regulate one thing because we don’t like it… then the very next month it’s “oh you can’t regulate that we like that”. Give me a break! By the way I agree it’s totally lame that they are treating us like kids over something that really has absolutely no effect on anyone other than the user themselves. But that being said they will never stop with this garbage because you clowns allow them to get away with it so often. Seriously though we went from outdoor cultivation of medical marijuana being banned, now this! WHATS NEXT?

@ Digger…You ended your rant with “don’t tread on me.” I would agree, as a nonsmoker I’m am tired of having people like you expose others to your nasty habits. We would not need government to step in if people like you would grow up and be responsible adults. What you do is your business so long as you do it in the privacy of your own home, once in public, you need to be considered of others.If you can’t do that, then government needs to.

Shuley, You are correct, the Federal government isn’t a part of this- yet you blame it on Republicans. Yeah, buying Republican votes will help you a lot in California. Do you even bother to read your posts prior to hitting the “Submit” button?

The Truth finds your cognitive dissonance humorous.

And you are also correct that “reading is fundamental”. So you should have read that “Retailers of e-cigarettes will now also be required to purchase a tobacco retailer license”. Aha! There is the real reason for this. And you can bet that it is Democrats pursing this cash grab.

See Shuley, The Truth is there, right in front of those who chose to see it.

So, it’s not really about smoking and the dangers of second hand smoke. The neo-puritans are really against anyone attempting to feel good outside what they deem is an appropriate way to do so. The anti-smoking nazis are lying hypocrites.

#33 is a perfect example of this. It’s a “nasty habit” not because it smells bad or delivers smoke to innocent people who are not smokers, but because the person puts something to their mouth and they enjoy the feeling they derive from the dose of nicotine which has no odor, no foul smoke, nor harm to any other person anywhere nearby. #33 has a nasty habit of demanding that government rule over every aspect of our lives to quell her fear of sin.

Write your congressman and senators… they are the only ones who are allowed to make real laws. Just put it on a ballot and we will repeal it. It’s time to take control back. The only way to stop them is to embarrass them.

Our competition has developed a product that weens users off of our cigarettes, while being immensely healthier?!? Outrageous! Oh. Wait. Politicians are going to regulate it? Thanks gubment!

From up here, it’s hilarious to watch the peasants get riled up and actually choose a team. You people actually champion and fight over your preferred flavor of tyranny. Right wing…left wing…the punchline to this joke is that they’ll both goose-step all over you when left unchecked. Just depends on which version the unwashed masses want: banning petty crap or sending your kids off to get shot in the latest quagmire. Doesn’t matter to us, so long as you imbeciles keep smoking.

I’m starting my own coalition and am currently seeking new members to join my alliance. It’s called “The don’t sweat the small stuff Concord and focus your attention & energy on eliminating the REAL dangers and crime in our community starting with CPD & CFD who break more laws than anyone and pose greater health risks to it’s citizens than any freakin’ Ecig ever could.”
Anybody wanna join up?

To be honest, I would rather ban non electronic cigarettes and allow all E-cigarettes in all places. They don’t produce anything harmful, they are cleaner, smell better, and safer for your lungs. Addicts are going to be addicts, may as well make the addiction safer.

The only good reason not to ban them is then they’ll kill themselves off sooner and rid the world of their nastiness. Us non-smokers should not have to deal with them in public. Stay at home if you want to continue to have your death wish .

Question: Doesn’t the Department of Agriculture still subsidize tobacco growers here in this country? And, then our government attempts to promote the statement, don’t smoke while making tobacco one of the most taxed items available in almost every store in the country All this regulation of a subsidized crop and now, we say,”OK” to “Medical Marijuana!” However, we can’t burn wood in our fireplaces and we need to use a “Government inspected low flush toilet!” Perhaps it’s time for the population of this country to quote Nancy Reagan and just say “NO!” This is way too much government.

They realize that the e-cigs are harmless to anyone else and want to stop smoking all together so first go the “fake cigs” and then hit real cigs hard with a law punisable by fine (or jail or death). Call me crazy but these folks are crazier.
I don’t understand liberals who are for legalizing pot and other drugs but want to make cigarettes illegal (but bringing dogs into restaurants is fine). I know cigarettes are worse for a person over pot but it’s still smoking.

Apparently liberals believe the power to ‘regulate’ includes the power to ‘ban’. The board may well be able to regulate – require licensing of sellers – but they certainly don’t have the authority to ban an item that is legal in all State and Federal law.
Whazzat? It LOOKS like a cigarette, therefore it is as harmful?
Not only should the courts throw this oit, they should make those Supes do 60 days in jail for contempt of voters. After all, they refuse to keep real criminals in those cells.
Are we going to buy a bunch of those surplus orange EPA sniffer cars, and hire a bunch of geeks to patrol, looking for these evil Exhalers of H2O?
How did these morons get elected?
Oh wait … that last question was rhetorical.

Bozo’s. be happy people are Wiening off Cigarettes. No take another Liberty away from a Fellow American. Guns, Vapor Cigarettes, what’s next on the list? And then CBS 5 shows the New California Marijuana Vending Machines. It’s true. I don’t Smoke or do Pot, but if I hurt my Back again, I hope they hurry and invent the new OxyContin Machines. What are the Couny Nannies going to do when a Pot Machine comes to town?

So now it’s not even about whether the “cigarette” is emitting second hand smoke…it’s all about how the “powers that think they rule the world” feel about the “image” this is creating and the possibility that the government may look like it’s condoning a behavior that isn’t PC.. Seriously. You have places in this county that are blighted with street side trash, homeless who defecate and urinate in Public, streets with potholes and kids who can’t figure out how to keep their pants up over their tushes. Ya think these concerns might be a bit more important to attend to, than worrying about what the Public might think about the BOS if they don’t make an outright statement against anything tobacco? The BOS need to get their flippin’ priorities straight.

Agree with the overall consensus here…I smoked since I was 12 and couldn’t quit any way I tried…Then E-cigs! Haven’t put another to my lips since…and I don’t stink anymore, and work out hard with no more breathing issues. This is crazy overuse of power. Oh, and maybe lack of knowledge.

Here’s a novel idea; how about we all, including politicians, mind our own F^€#%^* business, and stop trying to legislate how others are supposed to live!?!? “Oh my, that person is smoking! Never mind that if I spend a few minutes walking along a busy street or get stuck in traffic it exposes me to 100 times the amount of dangerous chemicals as a little cigarette smoke I might inhale walking by a smoker, we should ban smoking!” To this we should all say, shut up and mind your own business! “Ban this gun or that gun because they look scary and look like the military version.” Again, shut up and mind your own business! “Oh, that person is trying to quit smoking by using a safe alternative that we don’t get kick backs from, we useless politicians must ban it!” One more time for the slower people, SHUT the hell UP and mind your own DAMN BUSINESS!!! You people have got some serious problems with your priorities. The things that are allowed, legalized, and even encouraged verses the things that are condemned and or outlawed in our society are becoming so inverted that I’m surprised anyone knows which way is up anymore. Rant over, smoke ‘em if you got ‘em!

I don’t smoke cigarettes but my wife has since she was a teenager. After one of my other friends was able to quit cigarettes using e-cigarettes I decided to buy my wife an e-cigarette starter kit from the Volcano store in Antioch. Within a week I could tell she had no more ‘smokers cough,’ and she smelled like her perfume instead of cigarettes. She feels healthier and has regained senses of smell and taste. Why would any government want to put restrictions on a great product that is helping lifelong smokers? Why criminalize a harmless product that is helping life-long cigarette smokers quit and wean themselves off of tobacco (yes, you can get e-cigarettes with decreasing amounts of tobacco to zero)? Federal Glover is NOT a representative of the people (look up Measure Q parcel tax). He’s got to go.

@ The Truth – Buying Republican votes? WTF are you talking about? The point of my post is the the big tobacco lobby have been making legal moves all across the country to regulate these e-cigarettes because they are losing millions of dollars in cigarette sales. And they have an argument. Why should one tobacco product be regulated and another one not regulated? It’s not MY argument, but it is an actionable one. In fact, it could soon be state law. As far as big tobacco is concerned, the more restrictions they can put on them, the better. And big tobacco companies overwhelmingly support Republican politicians. So, hopefully, you see the irony. The state-wide effort for this is legislation that restricts freedom, is a gift to GOP funders, but was introduced by a Democratic State Senator. The group that is organizing strong opposition to this, the CASAA is a very liberal focus group.

These e-cigarettes are almost exclusively made in factories in China. So, if anyone is dumb enough to puff on one of these things all day – go for it. Personally, with the track record of barely regulated Chinese products coming to the states and doing far more damage to us than we originally thought, I wouldn’t get near them. “It’s just water vapor..” You sure? “It’s just a hamburger….what do you mean, horsemeat?”

The majority of liquids that Americans use are made in America. It’s true that some of the food flavorings used to make them could be sourced from China. However, it’s up to the consumer to educate themselves on what they’re purchasing and using. The majority of vapers do educate themselves on where their products come from and choose American made and sourced liquids. This has an added bonus of keeping jobs and revenue in America.

Big Tobacco has less of an interest in this than Big Pharma does. Big Tobacco will simply manufacture and market their own ecigs or push for more tobacco sales in developing countries (they’re already doing the latter). Big Pharma is losing profits on their smoking cessation products and has no way to get a piece of the pie. They’re a huge reason why the FDA keeps attacking ecigs. They’re looking to have them banned outright.

@Shuley the evil lobbies bribing GOP again? Look around. Show us one. The GOP are an endanged species in CA, and extinct in all local and county positions. That means evil bribed GOP have zero influence.
Blame the liberals for this idiocy, the GOP has nothin to do with it.
More important is to discuss what recourse we have when the leaders go off their leash ahink they tell us what to do. Instead of doing what we tell them to do.
Wait for the next election? Hope all the morons don’t reelect these goofs?
Welcome to one party rule by the National Socialist Peoples Democratic Party!

Let me understand this. You want to send people that have finally found something other than burning tar that has no smell and create no impact on those around them to areas where people are smoking and have them impacted by the smell and the second hand smoke. Maybe, just maybe you can get them all smoking again, WOW, impressive decision with forethought.

This is just the most ignorant thing i’ve ever read in my life. And right after this there is a post about how El Dorado has a sign that says “Smoking kills,kick butts.” So many people have stopped smoking actual cigarettes because of the invention of e-cigarettes. “If e-cigarettes become part of our social landscape, we are reintroducing the notion that “smoking” is harmless and acceptable.” Good thing it is not SMOKE and harmless water vapor. We can’t even quit smoking without being criticized for it. Maybe the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors should be working on actual problems like the rise in heroin use in our lovely little suburbia instead of bashing the members of society that have decided to quit smoking AND therefore the emitting of second-hand smoke by using an e-cigarette as an alternative to tar and chemical based real cigarettes.